Asbury Park Beach Community Fund

$10,166
of $5,500 goal

Hey let's help all Asbury Park residents who live way below the poverty level a chance to enjoy Mother Nature - the beach - during the day when life guards are on duty. There are so many children, teens & families who cannot afford the hefty fees to swim and play on the beach during the day. Many impoverished kids or families go to the beach in the evening when there are no life guards which is dangerous. This is when drownings tend to occur. Many Asbury Park citizens cannot afford the high beach entry fees. Swimming and playing on the beach would be a great way to deter bored, hot kids from getting into trouble & a great way to allow kids to have fun and meet other kids. Play is important for the emotional, social, cognitive and physical development of children. Give families, teens & children (with low income) a chance to enjoy the beach this summer. I am working with both the Boys & Girls Club in Asbury Park & Trinity Church to allow our entire community to have access to the beach. The funds donated will allow me to buy seasonal beach badges. I will provide a receipt for each donation & beach badge bought. The badges bought will be distributed to the Boys & Girls Club & Trinity Church who will give these beach badges to families who live below the poverty level and cannot afford to visit the beach.

I am excited that the amazing community of Asbury Park has already shown their generosity and their positivity towards this effort to allow all of our community to enjoy the beach. I am grateful for each and every person who donates to this cause. These beach badges will allow families to spend the day at the beach together and teens to have supervised, outdoor, healthy fun. Please comment if you would like an itemized receipt for beach badges that I buy. I will keep this Go Fund Me Page available for donations for the next three weeks. Thank you for your kindness, generosity and love!

I was interviewed yesterday by Fios NJ News.Re: My Beach Badge Go Fund Me Fundraiser. I love that the kids are interviewed. The reporter miss-spoke (accident). I am keeping the fundraiser going all year so this can happen again this summer! Not buying gifts but hoping people will continue to contribute so next summer will be a great one. Please continue to share so next summer can be a great one for many AP residents who cannot afford the price of beach badges! Thank you!https://www.facebook.com/FiOS1NewsNJ/videos/1897705386948140/

July 25, 2018
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the staff, kids, and families of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, I want to thank you for your donation to the Asbury Park beach badge fundraiser.
So many Asbury Park children do not get to have fun summer experiences at the beach--for most, a trip to the ocean is too expensive...and scary. Due to the prohibitive cost of beach badges, so many families opt to visit after hours, when access is free and the beaches are unguarded. And because 70% of African-American children and 60% of Hispanic children in America cannot swim, a trip like this can be extremely dangerous.
The racial and ethnic groups that are disproportionately at risk for drowning represent the demographics of the kids in the Boys & Girls Club. At the Club, we provide swim lessons at no cost to our kids. And now with your help, our kids can swim in the ocean during the safest hours--when lifeguards are on duty to protect them. Because of your generosity, Asbury Park residents will have safe AND affordable visits to our beautiful beaches this summer.
Thank you for partnering with us as we work to empower Asbury Park's kids, putting them on the path to a great future!
Sincerely,

Food Justice at Trinity
Saturday Soup and Food Pantry Of Asbury Park
503 Asbury Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone (732) 775-5084
To Whom It May Concern,
This letter is a thank you to our beautiful community here in Asbury Park. It is a thank you to everyone who donated their time and money to buy beach badges for our low-income community members who could not afford badges. This was such a grass roots movement, with the vision of Lisa, you took power in to your own hands and created an act of economic justice. For to long the beaches of Asbury Park where legally segregated, this beach badge campaign directly made sure to make our beach more ethnically diverse this summer. Over 100 adults and 100 children will get to enjoy the beach safety all summer long. Our belief that all should have excess to nature was put to power through this beach badge campaign.
As the social Justice Director of Trinity Church I have sent pictures of the peoples and families that have gotten beach badges. I also gave badges to the Library of Asbury Park, Second Life Bikes, Community Affairs, and the Sister Academy of Asbury Park.
I look forward to fighting for justice in the future with you,
Thank you,
Derek Minno-Bloom
Social and Food Justice Director at Trinity Episcopal Church
503 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ, 07712
Asbury Park Education Justice Collective Member
Transformative Justice Project Director
Derek.minno.bloom@gmail.com
Cell-215-820-3444
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